A selection of the latest news, notes, announcements and information for Scout families, volunteers and leaders throughout Pathfinder District! Please share this information with your Units & anyone else you who may find it valuable!

Pathfinder District will be holding a special in-person training session for ALL direct-contact adult leader Position-Specific Training courses for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA and Venturing positions THIS WEEKEND on Sunday, October 27, 2019, at 1:00pm at Grace United Methodist Church (1300 E Adams St., Franklin, IN 46131).

We apologize for the late notice on this course, but we were only able to confirm the location and times earlier this morning.

We will offer the following training opportunities:

Cub Scout Direct Leader Training (4 hrs)

Cubmaster / Assistant Cubmaster

Den Leader / Assistant Den Leader

Pack Committee Chair / Pack Committee Member

Scoutmaster / Assistant Scoutmaster Direct Leader Training (4 hrs)

Note: will NOT include IOLS, which is also required to be considered position-specific trained.

Venturing Advisor Direct Leader Training (4 hrs)

Merit Badge Counselor (1.5 hrs)

Youth Protection Training (1.5 hrs)

Please note: you will only be able to choose ONE of the above classes, as they will all run concurrently. Registration is at 1:00pm, with all classes beginning immediately thereafter. (i.e.: You cannot take Youth Protection Training AND Cub Scout Direct Leader Training at the same time. You must choose one or the other.)

A reminder, ALL direct-contact leaders for Cub Scouts (Cubmaster, Asst. Cubmaster, Den Leader & Asst. Den Leader) and Scouts BSA (Scoutmaster, Asst. Scoutmaster & Merit Badge Counselor) MUST have completed position-specific training for their registered positions before December 31, 2019, in order to remain chartered in their positions. Any leaders who have not completed their training by that time will be removed from Unit charters in 2020, and will have to reapply for membership and complete their position-specific training to resume their positions.

University of Scouting: Saturday, 11/09/2019

Every Scout deserves a trained leader. The University of Scouting, the premier training event in Crossroads of America Council, is one of the easiest ways for adult volunteers to achieve this goal. This single-day training event is designed to supplement any leader’s training. Any Scout leader may attend.

The University of Scouting is based on the Boy Scouts of America’s nationally recognized four-function plan, which includes:

All direct-contact adult leader position-specific training courses will be offered at the University of Scouting, providing an additional opportunity to get these completed before the end of the year. For those still needing them, both BALOO (for Cub Scouts) and IOLS (for Scouts BSA) will also be offered as part of the University of Scouting.

IOLS is required training for Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters and Crew Advisers as part of position-specific training, and as such is required for these direct-contact leaders before December 31, 2019! For Cub Scouts, Pack and Webelos Den overnighters require at least one leader who has completed BALOO. (However, it is NOT required for position-specific training for any Cub Scout leader positions.)

Both IOLS and BALOO will be offered at the University of Scouting, as mentioned above. However, if you are unable to attend that weekend, there will be two additional opportunities in 2019 to complete these trainings:

Recently, you may have received an e-mail from the Boy Scouts of America with a request to complete new forms for an elevated Criminal Background Check process. If you did not receive an e-mail, you can download the forms below.

Here's what you need to know about this new process:

Beginning in 2020 all registered adults will be submitted for an updated criminal background check with rechecks every five years. This will only be a criminal background check not a credit check.

A new, signed Background Check Authorization form must be completed in order to begin this process.

All units must ensure their adult volunteers have completed these forms before their membership can be processed for 2020.

Volunteers should turn completed forms in to their Pack, Troop, Crew, Post or Ship for submission with their annual unit renewal. ALL Units will need to ensure they have a signed form for all registered adults on their recharter prior to submission.

To help you understand why the BSA is making this change, the scope of the background check, how to submit forms and more, we have prepared a list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions with assistance from our National organization.